Well Productivity

Minimising formation damage is a priority for maximising well productivity. At OCTL we can bridge the divide between drilling and production chemistry by offering a comprehensive range of tests and subsequent analysis to predict the risk of damage as well as advise on the best clean-up and stimulation procedures to prevent or remove damage.

The work is carried out using specially designed equipment including:

Reservoir-pressure core flooding apparatus with bypass or direct flow patterns to determine dynamic drilling fluid invasion and return permeability;
Packed column assemblies, low-pressure visual and high-pressure tube configurations to assess deep fluids invasion, stimulation, EOR and IOR treatments such as polymer and surfactant flooding and squeeze chemical behaviour;
Flow loops for wellbore clean-up and formation damage tests;
High-pressure and temperature drilling and completion fluid test cells to study fluid stabilities, corrosion, compatibility and materials selection;
Ancillary analytical methods such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, particle-size analysis, surface and interfacial tension measurements

Our clients are proof that the cost of such a study is far outweighed by the benefits of increased productivity and the reduced risk of later well interventions. As part of our comprehensive package, all of our well productivity tests include a full interpretation of the results complete with expert predictions and recommendations.

Well productivity tests include:

Shale and Core Stability

These procedures are designed to assess fluid stability, shale dispersibility and core reactivity. Static or dynamic bottle tests, autoclave tests or flooded column tests are conducted on shale samples, core fragments or standard clays to determine the reactivity of drilling, completion, workover and injection fluids, as well as chemical additives such as proposed scale inhibitors. Tests are available from ambient to reservoir pressures and temperatures.

Formation Damage and Core Flooding

With a firm background in drilling fluids formulation and development, OCTL has developed standard test methods to measure the permeability change in core plugs caused by fluids invasion or reaction to chemicals. By identifying well risk and targeting the test at the primary damage mechanism, the high cost of a complete core analysis programme is avoided. Test results are fully interpreted with advice on improvement and optimisation of well procedures and fluids provided where appropriate.

Fluid Integrity

Instabilities in drill-in fluids or completion brines can cause formation and well damage, especially at high temperatures and pressure. We offer stability tests to measure gelation, solids settling (sag), chemical breakdown, corrosion and reactivity to minerals and materials.

Wellbore Clean-up